Color Codes
Chat colors
Click a color to copy its § code, or select the codes below it by hand - configs (Bukkit/Spigot, EssentialsX) use & instead of §.
Formatting codes
Text generator
Select text and style it with the toolbar - typed § codes are converted as you write. Switch to the code view to edit the raw § codes directly.
§eWelcome to §b§lLaby§f§l.net§r
§7A §asimple §7example with §c§ncolors§r§7, §d§ostyles§r §7and §kmagic§r§7!&eWelcome to &b&lLaby&f&l.net&r
&7A &asimple &7example with &c&ncolors&r&7, &d&ostyles&r &7and &kmagic&r&7!The complete color code reference
Every Minecraft color and formatting code in one place: the classic 16 § colors with their names, hex values and shadow colors, the formatting codes for bold, italic, underline, strikethrough and obfuscated text - plus a live generator that styles your own text and copies it with § or & prefixes for chat plugins, signs, MOTDs and books.
All 16 colors with hex values
From §0 black to §f white - each with its official name, foreground hex value and the matching text shadow color.
Formatting codes included
Bold §l, italic §o, underline §n, strikethrough §m, obfuscated §k and reset §r - with live examples of each.
Click to copy
Every code copies with one click - as § code, & code or raw hex value, whatever your target supports.
Live text styler
Type your own text, apply colors and formats and see it rendered in the authentic Minecraft font.
Plugin-friendly output
Copy styled text with the & prefix for Bukkit/Spigot/Paper configs or with § for vanilla contexts.
Bedrock compatible
The classic codes work across Java and Bedrock - including Bedrock's extra material colors where they exist.
How to use Minecraft color codes
- 1
Find your color
Browse the table with all 16 colors and 6 formatting codes, each shown exactly as it renders in-game.
- 2
Copy the code
Click to copy §b, &b or the hex value - depending on whether you target vanilla, a plugin or a custom format.
- 3
Style full texts
Or write your text in the generator, style it visually and copy the complete coded string.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I type the § symbol?
- On most keyboards it's not directly available in Minecraft chat. Copy texts with § from this page, or use & codes on servers with chat plugins that translate them. On signs and in books, § can be pasted from the clipboard in Java Edition.
- What's the difference between § and & codes?
- Vanilla Minecraft only understands §. The & prefix is a plugin convention (Bukkit/Spigot/Paper) that gets translated to § server-side - handy because & is easy to type.
- Can I use custom hex colors in chat?
- Java 1.16+ supports 24-bit colors via JSON text components (/tellraw) and the §x legacy format on many servers. For gradients across text, use our Gradient Generator.
- Why does my color reset after a formatting code?
- Using a color code resets active formatting, so the order matters: set the color first, then the format - for example §6§l for bold gold. §r resets everything.
- Do color codes work in the MOTD?
- Yes, but server.properties needs the escaped form \u00A7 instead of the raw § character - our MOTD Generator produces that automatically.
- What is the obfuscated §k format?
- §k renders characters as rapidly changing random glyphs - the classic 'magic text'. It keeps the original text length, and everything after it stays scrambled until a reset.